Some Reese’s Treats Drop the Milk Chocolate. Mr. Reese Disapproves.

Hershey's has announced changes to some of its Reese's Treats recipes by replacing milk chocolate with cheaper alternatives due to soaring cocoa prices, a move that has embarrassed the grandson of the original Peanut Butter Cup inventor, as global cocoa production has been severely impacted by climate change, tariffs, and disease outbreaks. The iconic American chocolate company, facing unprecedented challenges in sourcing affordable cocoa, has quietly reformulated several products in its popular Reese's line, removing the traditional milk chocolate coating that has defined the brand for decades. In a surprising public reaction, the grandson of Harry Reese, who invented the original Peanut Butter Cup in the 1920s, expressed his dismay at the changes, stating he felt 'embarrassed' by what he sees as a departure from his grandfather's legacy. The company's decision comes as cocoa prices, though down from their peak last year, remain approximately twice as expensive as they were before the recent crisis, forcing confectioners to make difficult choices about product formulations and pricing strategies.